Author: Bill Tarling

“Two bills filed in the state House of Representatives and Senate would give local governments the authority to regulate tobacco sales along with the advertising and distribution of tobacco products. The bills were introduced Wednesday morning in a Zoom press conference by the sponsors, Sen. Julie Raque Adams, a Louisville Republican, and Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, a Taylor Mill Republican. Moser’s bill would allow local governments to impose regulations on the “display, sale or distribution of tobacco products or vapor products that are stricter than those imposed under state law.”

ARTICLE LINK:  Bills would give local governments ability to regulate tobacco sales, advertising

“The Electronic Cigarettes (Regulation) Bill 2019-21 is to be presented to the House for its second reading on Friday 15th January. The Bill was sponsored by Sir Christopher Chope and supported by Peter Bone MP and Philip Davies MP. It marks the first step of changing vape regulations following the United Kingdom leaving Europe. The Electronic Cigarettes (Regulation) Bill doesn’t suddenly reverse the worst aspects of the European Union’s Tobacco Products Directive, but it does open up the opportunity to make future adjustments. In particular, the Bill present a future where parliament will be able to change the size, capacity, content, and/or packaging of vape devices and refill containers. The Bill would be a step along the footpath to a future where the limit to 2ml capacity tanks would be scrapped.”

ARTICLE LINK:   UK Electronic Cigarettes (Regulation) Bill 2019-21

“Dutch State Secretary for Health Paul Blokhuis has introduced measures that consumer group Esigbond says will herald death for many vape businesses. Grasping at debunked straws, Blokhuis justifies his flavour ban on the back of misplaced EVALI and child epidemic fears. The move signifies a direction of travel for the next iteration of the Tobacco Products Directive.”

ARTICLE LINK:   Vape Business Collapse Predicted

“The availability of vaping products would be sharply curtailed in Connecticut under bills that are being introduced in the General Assembly, including a ban on the sale of all nicotine products in pharmacies, and e-cigarettes within five miles of schools. Lawmakers are also expected to reintroduce legislation from Gov. Lamont that failed in the closure of the General Assembly last March, to ban flavored vaping devices. Several of the bills, including the outright ban on refillable e-cigarettes and vaping products in the state, have been introduced by state Sen. Saud Anwar, a physician from South Windsor who serves as vice chairman of the Public Health Committee.”

ARTICLE LINK:  Lawmakers push to limit vaping products, ban flavors

“The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) today congratulated Paraguay for banning smoking of lit or electronic tobacco products in enclosed public spaces as well as crowded outdoor places. With this decree, Paraguay joined the rest of South American countries in establishing smoke-free environments in indoor public spaces and workplaces as mandated by the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Under Decree No. 4624, approved by Paraguay’s presidency on December 29, smoking lit, heated, or electronic tobacco products is permitted only in uncrowded open air public spaces that are not transit areas for non-smokers.”

ARTICLE LINK:  South America free of smoking in public places, PAHO announces

“The World Vapers’ Alliance strongly urges policymakers to stay away from equating smoking tobacco and vaping, especially when it comes to taxation. This comes off the heels of a recently ended consultation on the update of the Tobacco Excise Directive, which specified the European Commission’s intention to tax vaping products similarly to how cigarettes are taxed. The consultation ended on 5 January and out of 134 responses from citizens, associations and industry, 113, or 84% referenced the positive impacts of vaping and the serious negative impact that taxing it the same as cigarettes would have. “If we want to reduce smoking induced burdens on public health, access and affordability to vaping products need to be guaranteed,” Landl concluded.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Tobacco Excise Directive consultation: 83% of submissions warning about higher taxes on vaping

“If passed, Senate Bill 45 would ban the manufacture, distribution or marketing of flavored e-liquid in Indiana. Sen. Ronald Grooms, a Republican who represents Indiana’s 46th District, authored the bill. If passed, it would ban the manufacture, distribution or marketing of flavored e-liquid in Indiana. Violation of the law would result in a Class C misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 60 days in jail or a $500 fine. If the bill is passed, it would go into effect July 1, 2021.”

ARTICLE LINK:  State Senate bill aims to ban flavored vape juice in Indiana

“The EU should embrace a risk-proportionate tax system for tobacco-related products, according to the Independent European Vape Alliance (IEVA). “Revising the current Tobacco Excise Directive presents an opportunity to apply the right incentives for current smokers to improve their health, ideally by stopping the use of nicotine altogether but also by switching to reduced-risk alternatives where this is impossible or unlikely for the individual smoker,” the IEVA wrote in its response to the EU excise duties roadmap. The consultation period for the revision of excise duties is scheduled for the first quarter of 2021, and commission adoption is scheduled for the fourth quarter of the year. The feedback period to the roadmap closed on Jan. 5.”

ARTICLE LINK: EU Urged to Embrace Risk-Proportionate Taxation

“The Malaysian Border Security Agency (AKSEM) in Perlis thwarted an attempt to smuggle out 96,160 bottles of vape liquid containing nicotine estimated to be worth RM1.8 million. Perlis AKSEM Commander DSP Rodzi Abu Hasan said he modus operandi used by the syndicate was to bring the liquid into the state from Kuala Lumpur declaring it as a perfume. He said the vape liquid with nicotine of various fruit flavours was sold at a price of RM20.00 and above. He said the case was being investigated under Section 13 of the Poisons Act 1952 and upon conviction could be punished according to Section 32 (2) of the same Act which is a fine not exceeding RM3,000 or imprisonment not exceeding one year or both.”

ARTICLE LINK: Vape liquid containing nicotine worth RM1.8m seized in Perlis

“Wang, Glantz (yes, he’s still not faded from view), and Bhadriraju produce another piece of research that would be better being distributed in The Beano than the American Journal of Public Health. “E-Cigarettes, as Consumer Products” makes the forced conclusion that vaping does not help people quit smoking. The finding will surprise everyone who has switched successfully and also those behind studies showing it is three times more successful than traditional quit methods.”

ARTICLE LINK:  Bhadriraju + Glantz + Wang = Curs